WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – The Sycamore Meadows apartment complex in Superior Township has failed a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development audit inspection, according to a Superior Township official.
Superior Township Supervisor Emily Dabish Yahkind said her office was notified of the failed audit on Tuesday (July 7).
The complex has been under scrutiny for months following resident complaints about sewage backing up into basements, mold, and other unsafe living conditions.
The township previously issued a non-compliance notice to the property.
“I was notified yesterday that the audit, the review for the property, did fail, and with that comes a notice to the property owner and to the receiver that corrections need to be made here at the complex within the next 60 days,” Dabish Yahkind said.
Some tenants said the federal presence has led to early improvements.
Sharon, a resident at Sycamore Meadows, said HUD inspectors documented conditions inside her unit.
“They came in; they were a lot of help,” Sharon said. “They gave a lot of numbers, and they were very upset about the conditions of the homes, so it was nice to see somebody else cares about what’s going on.”
Sharon said sewage previously backed up into her unit, that there is mold in her home, and that there is a hole in her ceiling.
Since the inspections, she said, her drains have been snaked and a new smoke detector installed, but the larger problems remain.
Sharon said the complex still needs to address what she said is mold, fix the hole in her ceiling, and install a railing on the stairs leading to her basement.
“Over the course of the past week, there have been crews out that have been doing pavement work throughout the property,” Dabish Yahkind said, adding that HUD’s involvement has pushed some repairs forward.
The township recently filed to intervene in the court receivership case involving the property and is now an official party to the litigation.
Dabish Yahkind said that status will help Superior Township better enforce local policies and property standards at the complex.
Dabish Yahkind said a HUD action timeline outlining what must be fixed and by when is something she hopes will be released soon.
Sharon said she is wary of new promises.
“It’s kind of hard because we’ve seen so many letters of stuff that’s supposed to get done that hasn’t,” she said. “I think maybe getting a letter like that’s cool, but actually seeing the work being done is going to mean more because we’ve had promises for years.”
Dabish Yahkind said residents should receive letters in the coming weeks, notifying them of the failed HUD Audit Inspection.
Local 4 reached out to HUD about this story; we’re waiting to hear back.